Hi, everyone. It’s Dan Brown filling in for Andrew Baggarly. If you need me, I’m at dbrown@mercurynews.com. If you need Andy, check the beach.

SAN FRANCISCO – Because today marks Jarrett Parker’s major league debut after an almost cruel wait, Manager Bruce Bochy figured he ought to keep Parker’s emotions in check.

So instead of telling Parker in advance that he’d be starting in right field against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park, Bochy casually mentioned it when he bumped into Parker in the weight room this morning.

“I just said, ‘By the way, you’re starting,’’’ Bochy said.

Just like that, Parker’s dream came true.

The 26-year-old made it to the doorstep last Aug. 1, when the Giants purchased his contract from Double-A Richmond. Parker dressed for one game but didn’t play and was promptly optioned back to the minors on Aug. 2.

Heck, even Moonlight Graham got to play the field.

As Ray Kinsella would say: “It would kill some men to get so close to their dream and not touch it. God, they’d consider it a tragedy.”

Given the chance to escape from New York on an earlier flight, left-hander Madison Bumgarner didn’t budge. He declined the Giants’ offer to get him some extra rest on the eve of his start and stuck around for the all-night flight just like everyone else.

“I don’t’ really want to be 3,000 miles away from the guys when they’re out there battling in New York,’’ Bumgarner reasoned. “They’re going to be tired and they’re going to fight. And I’m going to do the same.”

Hey, everyone. It’s Dan Brown filling in for mighty Andrew Baggarly. If you need me: dbrown@mercurynews.com or on Twitter (@mercbrownie)

After playing a night game in New York and and running into a few travel snafus along the way, the Giants didn’t get land back in the Bay Area until after 3 a.m. So it was no surprise that Bruce Bochy reported for duty Friday a little on the sour side.

The Giants manager made it clear that such travel headaches shouldn’t exist. He said traveling across three time zones overnight and playing without a day off is too much to ask. The Giants had requested that the Mets schedule a day game Thursday, but the Mets balked, leaving San Francisco to pull an all-nighter in advance of Friday’s game at AT&T Park.

Bochy said that someone – the Players Association and/or the commissioner’s office – needs to have the power to intervene.

“Come on, we can fix that,’’ Bochy said before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. “Certainly, ticket sales shouldn’t play a part in this. You have to look out for the players. It doesn’t happen without them. You take care of them and you keep this from happening.

“This is a tough enough game as it is to come out there every day … This puts a lot of stress on the body.”

It’s not just the lack of sleep that bothered Bochy. He said the demanding travel itinerary puts players at an increased risk of injury. “We’re dropping the ball here,’’ he said.

Giants lineup

Aoki LF

Panik 2B

Pagan CF

Posey C

Belt 1B

Crawford SS

Duffy 3B

Maxwell RF

Bumgarner LHP

Trivia o’ the day

Bruce Bochy is one of four managers in big-league history to guide two teams to at least 700 wins apiece. Name the other three. (Answer below).

Hey, everyone. It’s Dan Brown (@mercbrownie) filling in for our man Andrew Baggarly. If you need the *real* Baggs, he’s across the street from AT&TPark at MOMO’S, signing his book, “Giant Splash.” He’ll be there from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., along with Brian Murphy and Brad Mangin, who are signing copies of “Championship Blood.”

Today’s lineup:

Aoki LF

Panik 2B

Pence RF

Posey C

Belt 1B

Crawford SS

Pagan CF

Duffy 3B

Bumgarner LHP

Today’s starter: Madison Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner (6-2, 3.00) has a chance today to close out a fabulous month of May for the Giants.